Table of Contents
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has put his cabinet ministers and other senior government officials through military training, stating that armed forces discipline can help build stronger leaders and advance the nation’s development.
Military Exercises at Hurso Centre
Photographs shared by Abiy on social media show him participating in military exercises alongside ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of government institutions at the Hurso military training centre. This development is unusual in Ethiopia, where senior civilian government officials are rarely seen undergoing military training.
Participants in the program include Speaker of the House of Federation Muferiat Kamil, Finance Minister Fitsum Assefa, and Health Minister Mekdes Daba. It remains unclear when the training officially began or how long it is scheduled to last.
Building Leadership and Discipline
In his social media post, Abiy explained that Ethiopia’s ambition to achieve universal prosperity requires its leadership to be physically fit, morally strong, and intellectually capable. He noted that military institutions provide valuable lessons in discipline, patriotism, teamwork, accountability, and leadership.
Soldiers have targets while civilians have goals, the prime minister said, adding that the objective of both is victory. He stated that combining military and civilian disciplines helps create a generation capable of achieving both targets and goals.
Abiy argued that military training can help develop leaders with a strong sense of purpose, high responsibility, and the ability to collaborate effectively toward common objectives.
Security Challenges and Regional Tensions
The military training initiative takes place as Ethiopia faces multiple security challenges, which include continued fighting in parts of the northern Tigray region, ongoing conflict in Amhara, and persistent insecurity in Oromia.
The drills also coincide with heightened tensions alongside neighboring Eritrea, prompting concerns regarding the possibility of renewed conflict between the two nations. Abiy has previously emphasized military preparedness and national development as central priorities for his government.
